Geraldton this morning, went for a walk and assessed that the moderate surf coming in was beyond my even moderater abilities.
But I wanted to at least get wet.
Spent the morning looking around, bought a surf lock for the car keys.
Surf shop was selling the "shark eyes" stickers.
Pleased when the girl serving me assured me there are no great whites up this far, water too warm.
Just tiger sharks and "bronzies".
And there had only ever been one shark attack here, and they didn't find anything so he might have just drowned.
Hmmmm.
Had some lunch, time for a shakedown.
Did I bring everything?
Pleased to find the carbon joining tubes.
About 10 minutes later I had a board.
Found the fins
Suggestion for AA or Dylan.
On the supplied multi tool that tightens the board bolts, have a fin key rather than one of the screwdriver bits.
Even remembered paddle and leg rope.
So here we go, 3,820 kilometres west of the Ningaloo's last paddle.
As I said, no plans for a big session, just get me and the board wet.
Air and water both about 20 degrees.
Here there should be several shots of me attempting to paddle for waves, and ending up next to, or behind, the board.
But The Wife One was too kind.
Water a good temperature though.
Happy to have gotten wet, and that I had bought all the bits of the board, called it enough.
Felt good though, and out of Melbourne winter.
Re covered the board in the one piece stretchy.
And moved to the roof - ties downs another thing I managed to remember.
Could not be more pleased with the concept and execution of the board.
I have had a paddle in the Indian Ocean I never would have, and lots more to come.
Travelling day from Geraldton to Denham.
Must admit I'm a little nervous about going out here....
Photo I should have got yesterday.
Morning visit to Monkey Mia for the "dolphin experience", but will have to get up early and try again tomorrow as they were all finished when we got there.
Monkey Mia about a km of beachfront RAC Resort, found it very underwhelming and not conducive to paddling if you weren't staying there.
But with about 23 degrees and sunny, it sure beats Melbourne.
Found a good spot.
Actually a lagoon called "Little Lagoon", free of potential shark encounters.
Although the ranger girly at Monkey Mia assured me the sharks were well fed and would rather chomp a dugong than a SUP.
Inflated board number 2 for The Wife One.
Driving on the beach felt very cool, great spot for a calm little paddle.
Quite breezy though, The Wife One having trouble with the inflatable getting blown around.
No such problems on the Ningaloo.
Had lunch there, another paddle, then checked out a boardwalk on the other side of the peninsula.
Tomorrow the Dolphin Experience, and on to Carnarvon.
Mainly a travelling day - had to backtrack 130 km to the highway, then 200 km on to Carnarvon.
But first an early start for the dolphins.
A bit highly regulated, but good.
They actually only currently feed two dolphins - they can feed a maximum of 5 but they need to be conditioned to eat dead fish.
The others just come in because they are calves, or part of the family group.
Got on the road with a few stops on the way.
Tomorrow mostly travelling too to get up to Exmouth.
Tried to find the ocean at Carnarvon this morning, without success.
Nice inlet / river, but needed to get on the road.
Back to town for fuel, coffee, and a sausage from the Men's Shed sausage sizzle.
More road.
Turn off to Exmouth.
MangoDingo, here I come.
Diverted to Coral Bay to look at post Exmouth accommodation.
To say I was gobsmacked by what I found there doesn't cover it, but will elaborate later.
Secured the last remaining rooms for next Tuesday and Wednesday.
Made it in to Exmouth.
Tomorrow we swim with the whale sharks.
Early bus pick up for the trip to the boat.
Shallow water snorkell first.
Then after the spotter plane radioed in the shark location, off to swim with the whale shark.
This one was about 7 metres long, and initially pretty intimidating.
Amazing experience.
Wicked Nozza!
Ha - what a trip so far. Absolutely diggin' the stoke man!
Lookin' forward to seeing more shots of the great north-west!!!
Bit of a lazy day in and around Exmouth after yesterday.
Found a spot called Turquoise Bay.
Amazingly crowded car park for somewhere in the middle of nowhere, but a great spot.
The breaking water over the top of the fat white man is Ningaloo reef, so this is paddling the Ningaloo in Ningaloo lagoon.
Very nice paddle, fish, coral, and warmth!
Dawdled south to Coral Bay today, lots of stops and sightseeing on the way.
Paddling tomorrow.
Select to expand quoteNozza said..
This is basically the half way mark on the trip, about 4,700 km from home.
And you don't have to walk...!
Select to expand quoteHelmy said..And you don't have to walk...!
Would have been a very long and slow walk of shame
Coral Bay.
Ignore the on shore development, go to the beach.
Sandy beach, coral and fish just after the drop off, snorkeling and paddling.
Photos don't do the snorkeling conditions justice.
Spent 6 1/2 hours at the beach, longest time in memory.
The Wife One finds the 14 x 30 board nice and stable in the wind chop.
Would stay another day but the place is fully booked.
Very jealous mate. Just got back from a trip up north. Couple of weeks in Exmouth and Waroora station. Some great surf and wicked snorkelling!
Moved down to Kalbarri yesterday - really pleased with what we found.
Mouth of the Murchison River, huge surf pounding the Bar when we arrived.
Got a great waterfront unit, nice sunset.
My plans for a lazy day on the rivermouth thwarted by The Wife One wanting to visit Kalbarri National Park.
Have to admit it was very spectacular, photos again don't do it justice.
Nature's Window, Z Bend, Murchison River.
Late lunch and brief rain squall closed the paddling window.
Tomorrow for sure.
Day at Kalbarri and the Murchison River.
Surf outside looked a little beyond me.
Found a quiet spot on the inlet.
Crossed to the other shore and walked over for a look at the entrance.
Wild.
Nice quiet explore of the river.
great little village kalbarri ,has the best left hander there ...surfed it ,but saw sharks following a spear fisher with his bag full of fish
on a 10 metre line ..so we left the water .
weather looks great up there .
Kalbarri surf well beyond my abilities, looked to be close outs all the way.
Interesting watching boats negotiating the entrance.
Traveled south today, spectacular coast just south of kalbarri.
Realised the waves breaking just out to sea were whales passing, about 200 - 300 metres out
Some humpbacks, maybe some Orcas
Now in Jurien Bay for 3 nights.
Select to expand quotemagillamelb said..
Nozza singlehandedly promoting WA tourism is spectacular fashion...
I like to try and do my bit.
Poked along the coast north from Jurien Bay today.
Feeling the cold with 20 degree weather until I check what it's like in Melbourne.
I'm not following that link.
Nozza, I see your wife has the Naish One. How does she like it - looking at getting my wife one for flat water and v small chop.
Nozza, I see your wife has the Naish One. How does she like it - looking at getting my wife one for flat water and v small chop.
Nozza, I see your wife has the Naish One. How does she like it - looking at getting my wife one for flat water and v small chop.
Nozza, I see your wife has the Naish One. How does she like it - looking at getting my wife one for flat water and v small chop.
